DCL and DVC

[moonvxn]

ok..I've read everything I can find..looked everywhere I can look.

How does Disney calculate how many points you need to book a disney cruise? There are four of us in our family, my ds is 4 and dd 7. We like to generally cruise in late August or early Jan.

I know I've read over and over how people feel about the value of the cruise with points...I'm just curious how it's calculated...

Also...I've researched a lot on buying resale or from Disney...am I not correct in my thinking that it seems clearly a bonus to buy resale due to such a discount per point? We feel the most at home at AKV, but don't mind SSR. We normally travel from sun to fri anyway...and we generally get a 1 bdrm when we rent points. What do you guys think? Oh also we try to do 2 vaca a year. Need some expert advice
TIA!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You will use up a whole lot of points to use DVC points to cruise. The big guess right now is how much the points will go up for cruising next year. You can pay cash for additional guests, but at least the first is on points. And you won't get discounted cash rates for the additional persons. You'll pay the DVC cash price.

You get a better use of your DVC points using them for DVC stays.

And you'll really want to buy where you won't mind staying if nothing else is available at 7 months out when you can use your points anywhere.

 

[moonvxn]

the DVC member cruise...is that a discounted cruise for DVC members? Or is it just everyone's pretty much DVC?

I'm not looking for it just for cruising...was just curious about how they figure out the points required for a cruise....and then the resale vs. disney question.

thank you thank you thank you for the guidance!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Shoot, if I were buying now, I'd only buy resale because Disney charges too much for points. SSR is a great resort, but don't buy there is you never plan to stay there. Resale takes a bit longer that directly through Disney, once the sale is completed, there isn't any difference. At least for now. Some members think DVC might change the rules for Disney purchased points vs resale purchased points.

 

[Dean]

ok..I've read everything I can find..looked everywhere I can look.

How does Disney calculate how many points you need to book a disney cruise? There are four of us in our family, my ds is 4 and dd 7. We like to generally cruise in late August or early Jan.

I know I've read over and over how people feel about the value of the cruise with points...I'm just curious how it's calculated...

Also...I've researched a lot on buying resale or from Disney...am I not correct in my thinking that it seems clearly a bonus to buy resale due to such a discount per point? We feel the most at home at AKV, but don't mind SSR. We normally travel from sun to fri anyway...and we generally get a 1 bdrm when we rent points. What do you guys think? Oh also we try to do 2 vaca a year. Need some expert advice
TIA!!

All of the cash type options are calculated the same way. They take what the option will cost in cash and estimate how much cash they'll get from renting out points enough to give a zero total. It is a very inefficient system, much like using CC type reward points to buy a TV or similar.

 

[justjim1]

I found that it is better to useyour points at DVC's then on the cruise you really burn them up quickly, I just feel you get more for your money using the points on land

 

[chalee94]

I'm not looking for it just for cruising...was just curious about how they figure out the points required for a cruise....

here is a link to some non-DVC-resort point charts for reference, if that is what you are looking for.

as stated, the points required for cruises and other non-DVC-resort options can change from year to year.

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/points-charts-program-information-62/disney-collection-program-information-135?task=view

 

[Anthony1971]

DCL does give you a few point discount if you book when you are on a cruise or a few days after... most likely not worth the 3 points a person discount....
for a starting point ONLY I use 7.00 for the conversion to get an idea of what the points will be and this seems to put me in the very close area of the points required most of the time...

 

[DisneyWhirled]

Hi there! Just wanted to add that if you are looking to use DVC points to cruise in August 2011, there may be some difficulty. Currently, there is very limited availability for cruising with points through Sept 2011. I speak from experience that our cruise (which we booked last Nov) in August is booked for DVC points and you cannot be put on the waitlist, either, as it is full as well. My friend is DVC and trying to join us on the Dream 8/16/11 cruise and it looks like she is going to have to pay cash....

If you search, there is a post about the details on this board, but just wanted to let you know.

 

[wildernessDad]

I think that the formula goes something like this.

1. Take the cost of the cruise as if you were paying cash for it and multiply by 2.
2. Divide the result obtained in part one by 5 $/point.

The result is the number of points required.

 

[Dean]

I think that the formula goes something like this.

1. Take the cost of the cruise as if you were paying cash for it and multiply by 2.
2. Divide the result obtained in part one by 5 $/point.

The result is the number of points required.

This may be the way it ends up but this is not really how the costs for cash type options are arrived at. My info suggests the way it's actually done is to take the actual costs on the outgo side (cost DVD actually pays for a cruise cat) and estimate the return per point in rental proceeds taking into account the historical data of the per point return after CRO takes their cut. They have to account for the 50% CRO fees and the usual returns for a given unit size, resort and time of year all of which may vary. I'm sure it's not an exact science but I bet they get pretty close. I'd also guess they look to make up or contribute any variance from the year before since DVD's stated goals are to make this process a zero sum situation. After that info is known, it's simple math to divide the cost of X by the per point return estimate. I'd assume they give themselves so buffer just in case their off.